Civilian casualties in Ukraine reach highest level since war began
Russian strikes on Kyiv and other cities have driven civilian casualties to the highest level since the start of the war, forcing families to seek shelter underground.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Russian strikes on Kyiv and other cities have driven civilian casualties to the highest level since the start of the war, forcing families to seek shelter underground. In one of the deadliest waves of attacks, 21 people were killed, 17 of them in the capital and surrounding areas. President Zelensky has appealed to allies to step up supplies of air defence missiles, saying lives are being lost because the country does not have enough interceptors.
The UK's new defence secretary, West treating, visited Kyiv after the attacks and held talks with Zelensky. He said the UK was working through a list of Ukraine's requirements and would mobilise the international community where it could not help directly.
Russian strikes have intensified. According to BBC Verify analysis of Ukrainian Air Force data, missile launches are up 83 per cent over the last 31 days compared with the same period in 2025. The proportion of incoming missiles intercepted by Ukraine fell from two-thirds to just under half. In the latest attack, 28 ballistic missiles were fired, none of them intercepted.
Ukraine has also stepped up its own strikes, hitting a warehouse owned by Russia's leading online retailer. At least 20 such warehouses have been attacked since July. A drone was also found near a cargo airport in Leipzig, Germany.
On the ground, the nightly attacks are forcing people into underground stations. In Kyiv, families huddle together in Soviet-era metro stations built to withstand nuclear war. One resident, Anton, said: 'The Ukrainian people are made of steel. They will endure anything.'
Military analysts say Ukraine is running out of Patriot missiles, which are its main defence against ballistic missiles. The US has prioritised the Middle East, and Europe does not have a plentiful supply. There is no short-term fix, and the shortage is likely to continue for at least a year.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC One | Sky News |
|---|---|---|
| 21 people were killed in a wide-scale attack, including eight on a railway platform in a Kyiv suburb. | · | |
| A single hour-long attack on Kyiv involved 40 ballistic missiles. | · | |
| In the first five days of the Iran war, the US fired 800 interceptors in the Middle East, more than Ukraine used in three years. | · | |
| People in Kyiv are forced to seek shelter in underground metro stations almost every night. | · | |
| Russian missile and drone strikes have increased in recent months, with civilian deaths in July reaching the highest level since the war began. | · | |
| Russian missile launches against Ukraine increased by 83 percent over the last 30 days compared with the same period in 2025. | · | |
| Ukraine intercepted just under half of incoming missiles, down from two-thirds. | · | |
| US Patriot missile production is about 600 per year, with plans to increase to 2,000 per year, and the US inventory has dropped from about 2,200 to fewer than 1,000 interceptors. | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
BBC ONE West focused on the political and military response, including Zelensky's appeal for air defence and the UK defence secretary's visit. It also provided detailed statistics on missile launches and interception rates, and reported on Ukraine's counterattacks against Russian infrastructure. The tone was factual and analytical, with some human interest from a resident.
- “We are facing a clear shortage”
- “It was so scary. I must say this was my scariest night”
- “We've been looking very closely at Ukraine's requirements”
Sky News emphasised the human impact of the attacks, with vivid reporting from Kyiv showing families sheltering underground. It also included analysis from a military analyst on the shortage of Patriot missiles and the wider strategic implications. The tone was immersive and concerned, highlighting the resilience of Ukrainians.
- “The Ukrainian people are made of steel”
- “40 ballistic missiles rained down on Kiev in an hour”
- “There's no short term fix”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.